Brings enthusiasm to every interaction.
Encourages independent and critical thought.
Zoltan Acs is Professor Emeritus in Business & Economics at George Mason University’s Schar School of Policy and Government, having previously held the position of University Professor and Director of the Center for Entrepreneurship and Public Policy. A leading expert in entrepreneurship and innovation, his research spans global and domestic business environments, managerial economics, public policy, new venture creation, technology management, and the global economy. Acs holds a PhD in Economic Theory and Industrial Organization from The New School for Social Research (1980), an MA in Political Economy from the same institution (1974), and a BA in Economics, cum laude, from Cleveland State University (1972). Throughout his career, he has occupied key roles such as Chief Economist at the U.S. Small Business Administration Office of Advocacy (2010-2011), Visiting Professor at Imperial College Business School (2009-2017), Research Scholar at the Max Planck Institute of Economics (2002-2009), and Doris and Robert McCurdy Distinguished Professor of Entrepreneurship at the University of Baltimore (1998-2002). He has also served as research fellow at the U.S. Bureau of the Census and chief economic advisor at the SBA.
Founder and co-editor of Small Business Economics, the premier journal in its field, Acs has authored over 100 articles in prestigious outlets including the American Economic Review and Research Policy, and more than 20 books such as "Why Philanthropy Matters" (2013), a finalist for the Academy of Management’s George R. Terry Book Award, "The Global Entrepreneurship Index 2015" (with László Szerb and Erkko Autio), and "Handbook of Entrepreneurship Research, 2nd Edition" (2010, with David B. Audretsch). His scholarship boasts over 89,000 Google Scholar citations, underscoring his impact on entrepreneurship, economic development, and innovation studies. Notable awards include the 2001 International Award for Entrepreneurship and Small Business Research, the 2015 Wilford White Fellow Award from the International Council for Small Business, and a Doctor Honoris Causa from the University of Pécs (2006). Acs has delivered influential lectures, including the 1994 F. De Vries Lecture at Erasmus University.